Device for tightening bed-springs.



M. W. INGRAHAM.

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING BED SPRINGS.

APPLIGATION FILED 1313.25, 1910.

Patented July 4, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor Attorneys M. W. INGRAHAM;

' DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING BED SPRINGS.

APPLIGATION FILED IBB.25, 1910.

997, 1 '34, Patented July 4, 1911.

2 SHBET8-SHEET 2.

Attorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW W. INGRAHAM, OF GLACE BAY, NOVA SGOTIA, CANADA.

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING BED-SPRINGS.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTHEW W.-INGRA- HAM, a citizen of Canada, residing at Glace Bay, in the Province of Nova Scotia and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Device for Tightening Bed- Springs, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention has reference 'to improvements in devices for tightening bed springs, and its object is to provide a means whereby bed springs may be rendered as taut as desired by the user or the bed springs may be loosened, especially where the bed bottom is employed in an invalid bed.

The invention will be best understood from a description of the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the device for tightening bed springs, some parts being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a means for adapting the tightening devices to varying widths of bed frames. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the device of the invention showing its applicability to invalid beds. Fig. t is a detail view of a form of locking device. Fig. 5 is a view of a side bar which may be used in connection with the spring tightening means. Fig. 6 is a section through the structure shown in Fig. 3 but on a larger scale and with the parts assembled.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a rectangular frame made up of an end member 1, another end member 2 at the opposite end of the frame from the member 1 and side members 3. The end members 1 and 2 may be made of angle metal and along one'edge of one of the webs of each member 1 and 2 are formed perforations 4 in longitudinal series designed to receive the corresponding ends of springs 5 supporting the bed bottom which may be made up of a plurality of inelastic members hinged together either directly or through the intermediary of other springs to impart elasticity to the bed bottom and at the same time permitting its being folded into small compass.

The present invention has nothing to do with the type of bed bottom and many different forms of bed bottoms or bed springs may be employed in connection with the tightening device forming the subJect Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1910.

Patented July 4, 1911.

Serial No. 545,914.

matter of this invention. The side members 3 are shown as tubular in cross section and fast to the end member 1 in proper spaced relation to enter the corresponding ends of the side members 3 are rods or studs 6 of suflicient length to permit the movement of the end member 1 away from the side members 8 for a considerable distance without withdrawing the rods or studs 6 from the side members 3. The rods or studs 6 are provided with spaced diametric perforations 7 and each side member 3 has diametric perforations into alinement with which any one of the perforations 7 of the rod or stud 6 may be brought. A pin 8 extending through the perforations in the side members 3 and the matching perforation in the rod or stud 6 serves to hold the rods or studs firmly to the side members 3. On each side member 3 at a short distance from the end entered by the rod or stud 6 is a boss or bracket 9 shaped to receive the end of a bow spring 10 having at its central portion a depression 11 to receive the corresponding end of a screw 12 passing through a nut 13 fast on the end member 1.

If a suitable bed spring or bed bottom be attached at the opposite ends to the end members 1 and 2 of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and then the screw 12 be turned in the proper direction by the application of a suitable tool to the outer end of the same and the pins 8 be withdrawn from the side members 3, then the bed bottom or spring may be put under any desired degree of tension and the pins 8 may be then reinserted in the side members 3 so as to traverse the proper perforation 7 in the rod or stud 6. It is of course evident that the spring 10 may be reversed, or may be replaced by strong helical springs attached to the side members 3 and to be engaged at a central point by the screw 12. When the desired degree of tension has been imparted to the bed bottom and the tensioning members have been locked by the insertion of the pins 8, then the screw 12 may be removed if so desired together with the spring 10 to be used again when wanted. Since the ends of the side members 3 are the only parts which need be considered in connection with the tensioning, the intermediate portions of the side members 3 may be of drop construction so as to be out of the way of the main portion of the bed bottom and such construction is shown in Fig. 5 where there is illustrated a side member 14 which may replace the side members 3 of Fig. 1.

Instead of providing the rods or studs 6 with perforations 7 and the side bars 3 or 14 with matching perforations and depending upon the pins 8 to lock the parts together, the structure shown in Fig. 4 may be employed where it will be observed that the rod or stud 6 has ratchet teeth 15 formed along one edge while a pawl 16 is mounted in the side member 3 toengage in the ratchet teeth 15 and so hold the rods or studs 6 in the adjusted position. I

It is found that even with bed frames of seemingly the same size there is more or less variation in Width, and so as to accommodate the tensioning device to bed frames of different variations in width, the end members 1 and 2 Whether of angular or tubular construction, may be formed at one or both ends with a longitudinal tongue 17 provided with a longitudinal series of perforations 18 while the corresponding portions of the side members 3 are provided with longitudinal slots 19 for the passage of the tongues 17, the latter being longer than the diameter of the side members. Where there is no movement of an end member longitudinal of a side member then the slots 19 may be but long enough to accommodate the tongues 17, but where it is desirable to move the end member longitudinally of the side member as for instance where the tensioning devices are employed then the slots 19 may be of sufiicient length to permit this movement of the end member and a series of perforations 20 will permit the introduction of the pin 8 to lock the end member to the side member in the adjusted position. The tension device is particularly useful in connection with invalid beds, in which case the end members may be of tubular form as shown at 21 and 22 respectively in Fig. 3, while the bed bottom may be in the form of an endless web 23, that can be rendered taut by the tensioning device, or the bed bottom may be in the form of a single web fastened at the ends to the end members 21 and 22 of Fig. 3 or the end members 1 and 2 of Fig. 1. Considering the bedas adapted for use as an invalid bed then the web 23 will have through it a passage 24 for the use of the invalid and when the passage is not required then a suitable cover 25 may be provided. Under ordinary conditions of use the web 23 will be maintained in a suitably taut condition by means of the tensioning devices but when necessary the web may be slacked so that the patient may assume a natural or more comfortable position at any time and for any purpose.

What is claimed is 1. A bed bottom comprising side members provided with bosses upon their adjacent faces; an end member movably connected with the side members; means for locking said members together; a tightening device movable in the end member; and a spring removably seated upon the bosses and arched toward the end member to receive the thrust of the tightening device.

2. A bed bottom comprising side members; an end member movably connected with the side members; means for locking said members together; a tightening device operable in the end member; and a spring terminally engaged, removably with the side members, the spring being arched toward the end member, to receive the thrust of the tightening device.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MATTHEW W. INGRAHAM. lVitnesses JOHN J. MoKnNzIE, JOHN O. MCLEOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Vfashington, D. C. 

